Tank and the Bangas is an American musical group based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band won the 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Contest and in November 2019, they were nominated in the Best New Artist category for the

2020 Grammy Awards The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held on January 26, 2020, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. It recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, running from October 1, 2018, to August 31, 2019. Ali ...

. They have released three studio albums, ''Thinktank'' (2013), ''Green Balloon'' (2019), and ''Red Balloon'' (2022).

History

Members of Tank and the Bangas met at a New Orleans open mic show called Liberation Lounge at now-closed Blackstar Cafe and Books in the Algiers section of New Orleans and formed the group in 2011. WWOZ_Tank_and_the_Bangas_2

Style

Writing in '' The Washingtonian'', Heather Rudow described the group's work as "lively fusion of

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...

, soul, hip hop, rock, and spoken word." Speaking to the '' Times-Picayune'', the musicians in the group mentioned a variety of genres they identify with, including rock, folk, gospel and Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph's invention "Soulful Disney". In addition to Disney, the group has also mentioned anime as influence on the group's "childlike" and "magical" sensibility, in Ball's words. In the '' Financial Times'', Joshua David Stein said, "Tank and the Bangas don’t conform to the jazz stereotypes trotted out in the lobbies of convention hotels or milked on Frenchman Street. It’s New Orleans but it’s New Orleans now."

Reception

In '' The Village Voice'', Rajul Punjabi described the group's debut album ''ThinkTank'' as "sincere and eclectic. Ball’s vocals are strong and versatile—evidence of her childhood in church—and she coasts through sweet melodies and wide-ranging vocal undulations reminiscent of Nicki Minaj’s character voices. She throws gentle shade when reminded of this — 'I’ve been doing that before she came out,' she says."

NPR

Naming Tank and the Bangas the 2017 winner of NPR's Tiny Desk Contest for their song "Quick", NPR co-host of '' All Songs Considered'' Bob Boilen, "What won me over about the band's performance of 'Quick' were the interactions among lead singer Tarriona 'Tank' Ball and her bandmates, and the way they seemed to surprise one another. It all felt so organic and on-the-spot." Juror Trey Anastasio of

Phish Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band is known for musical improvisation, extended jams, blending of genres, and a dedicated fan base. The band consists of guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon ...

said, "I immediately loved this...Tank is a force of nature, just full of joy—and her band is killing in the background." The story of the evolution of Tank's voice was covered in an episode of NPR's World Cafe show for essential and emerging artists.

Members

Current members

*Tarriona "Tank" Ball – lead vocals (2011–present) *Joshua Johnson – drums, musical director (2011–present) *Norman Spence II – bass, keyboards, guitar (2011–present) *Albert Allenback – alto saxophone, flute (2016–present)

Touring members

Performers that while not core members of the band, play with the band at live performances and on some album tracks. *Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph – background vocals (2013–present) *Danny Abel – guitar (2018) *Jonathan Johnson – bass (2017–present) *Etienne Stoufflet – tenor saxophone (2019-present) *Kayla Jasmine – vocals (2016–2019)

Past members

*Merell Burkett, Jr. – keyboard (2013–2020) *Joe Johnson – keyboard (2013–2016) *Keenan McRae – guitar (2013) *Nita Bailey – percussion (2013) *Christopher Menge – guitar (2013) *Nicole Spence – background vocals (2013)

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Extended plays

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Music videos

Notes

Honors

* 2014 RAWards Best New Orleans Artist of the Year * 2014 ''Offbeat Magazine'' Emerging Artist Award * 2016 Afropunk Festival contest winners * 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Contest winner *2020 Grammy Award for Best New Artist (nomination) *2023 Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album (nomination for ''Red Balloon'')

References

External links

Official Tank and the Bangas website

Tank and the Bangas perform
at the Kennedy Center, January 13, 2016 {{authority control Musical groups established in 2011 2011 establishments in Louisiana Musical groups from New Orleans American funk musical groups American soul musical groups American hip hop groups Rock music groups from Louisiana Spoken word artists Verve Forecast Records artists